Adultery In Military

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Adultery in the Army Abstract This paper will cover how the Army deals with and responds to moral issues, specifically, the physical privacy right issue regarding the act of adultery. Adultery within the Army will be examined using normative ethics, specifically utilitarian and deontological reasoning. The paper will also include my personal conclusions on the issue of adultery within the confines of the military, ultimately, why I believe the military has a right and obligation to become involved in a soldiers personal life when it comes to moral issues. The Army is a unique company to work for in that it has its own set of guidelines and contracts separate from that of the civilian world. When you sign on with the Army, you…show more content…
“Privacy is the interest that individuals have in sustaining a ‘personal space’, free from interference by other people and organizations” (Clarke, 2007). An individual’s sex life seems to be the ultimate example of personal privacy, however, within the military guidelines, if you are a soldier and commit adultery; it is considered a criminal offense. “Adultery is a violation of one of the articles in the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. But in order to be found in violation of the code, the affair must involve sexual intercourse, must involve someone who is legally married, and must hurt a unit or bring discredit among the armed forces” (“Unfaithful in uniform,” 2008). With this being said, if there is enough evidence, a soldier who has committed adultery can receive punishments directly from their commander, loose rank, be discharged from the military or even face a court-martial as a direct result of their personal sexual relationship. The Army has struggled with how to deal with infidelity among their military personnel, so much so, that the Pentagon has launched task forces to review how the armed forces deal with moral issues, specifically that of adultery. Landay explained that, “the task force is expected to consider how deeply the military should be…show more content…
The first step involves the theory of utilitarianism. This theory involves looking at the action in its end result and weighing who it will benefit and who it will harm. Adultery is a selfish act. The two individuals who are involved in the sexual act in the moment are the only individuals who ultimately benefit from the situation for obvious reasons. Harm comes to a countless number of individuals from the act of adultery. The obvious people hurt are the adulterers significant others, their children and other extended family members affected by a damaged marriage. The fact that the adulterer was a soldier, the harm can and may be extended to affect the face of the military and may affect other people’s lives on the battlefield if the infidelity has caused mental cloudiness or depression. All of this being said, looking at the issue of adultery within the military using the utilitarianism ethics would most defiantly conclude that although sexuality is right of privacy, when you’re a soldier, your actions can have a damaging trickle effect and negatively impact the lives of
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